Uttarakhand Ex Finance Minister Dr. Premchand Agrawal has been appointed as a member of the Group of Ministers (GoM) formed to explore revenue generation in cases of natural disasters. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agrawal said he is committed to fulfilling the responsibility. The seven-member GoM, constituted by the GST Council, will examine the constitutional and legal feasibility of levying a disaster cess during emergencies.
Who’s in the Group of Ministers?
The GoM includes Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Uttarakhand’s Premchand Agrawal, Assam’s Ajanta Neog, Chhattisgarh’s OP Choudhary, Gujarat’s Kanubhai Desai, Kerala’s KN Balagopal, and West Bengal’s Chandrima Bhattacharya. The group will also evaluate whether states can be provided with additional financial support without altering the existing GST framework.
Local Opposition to Agrawal’s Appointment
Despite the central role, Agrawal’s appointment has stirred backlash in Uttarakhand. The Mul Nivas-Bhoo Kanoon Sangharsh Samiti has opposed the decision, citing Agrawal’s controversial remarks in the state assembly regarding original Uttarakhand residents. Samiti president Mohit Dimri accused the central government of ignoring public sentiment and promoting a minister facing demands for resignation. Dimri claimed this move questions the government’s intent and is unjust to the people of Uttarakhand.
